Protestors gathered outside Nottingham Trent University on Friday, December 9 in support of Iranian women who have been rebelling in their country over the lack of basic human rights.
After the death of Mahsa Amini in Police custody in September when she was arrested for breaching Islamic dress code by wearing skinny jeans and her hijab incorrectly has sparked outrage within Iran causing mass protests towards police.
Millions of Iranians from all different ages and backgrounds have come together in the country’s biggest protest in years, to demand fundamental rights for women who are still subject to sexual harassment and are made to abide by a dress code.
Protestor Kamiar Akhtari, said ‘’We are here in different parts of Nottingham to show we stand with and support women in Iran’’.
‘’This is something that has been going on for far too long and now is time the whole world needs to know what is happening and help support the people of Iran’’ Akhtari continued.
The organisation named ‘Woman, life, freedom’ is based in Nottingham but is part of a global movement to give woman in Iran more freedom.
This protest outside the university was created by lecturers and students with the aim to ‘make the world listen’.
The group placed a large speaker outside the university with shocking statistics being read out while posters, banners and flags were held up to surround photos of women on the floor who have died at the hands of police brutality.
Akhtari said: ”We cannot live in this world with rules different for male and female, we need equality”.
”This is something that has been going on for far too long and now is the time the whole world needs to know what is happening and help support the people of Iran” Akhtari continued.
Back in September, the Iranian government blocked the internet and restricted social media in certain areas after mass demonstrations broke out causing the riots to expand with security forces doing all they can to hide current truths.
Some of the methods being reported for protestors include forced confessions, threats to family members and torture methods such as electric shocks and controlled drowning.
Another woman, who chose not to be named said:’’ The government is blocking what is truly happening, this should not be allowed to happen’’.
”In 2022, how can women still be seen as inferior to men, it doesn’t make any sense” she continued.
The next planned protest is on Sunday at 1pm outside the Zara store in Nottingham City Centre.
